Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41521, Abel Evans, Penn

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn
Evans, Abel
S. 41521
CONTENTS

(2,421)
Pennsylvania Roll
Abel Evans
Cdo Flowers private
Pennsylvania line one year
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Pennsylvania at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the first of May 1818 .
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th of Sept. 1818 and forwarded to David Caldwell Esq. Philadelphia
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818. $ 33. 06 Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Mar. 1819. 48. 00.
4 mos & 4 days.
$ 81:06
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continue
Philadelphia

Notification sent to D. Caldwell Esq. Philadelphia. August Oct 1820

Abt Evans - Col. Flower's reg t artificers privates - Pennsylvania line. Vols. 1818.
There are no rolls of col. Flower's regiment in the pension office, to prove the service of his applicants. It is not considered that the act of 18 th March, 1818, extends to any other a regiment of artificers suspended, until the rolls of Pennsylvania are received.
Admitted
9 May 1846
3 artificers are not consid. as entitled to the benefits of the act of 18 th March, 1818, unless they are proved to have been non-com d officers or privates.

EVANS, ABEL (PA) S-41 521

Abel Evans, a native Citizen of the United States, residing in the City of Philadelphia, under Oath, declares and says. That he served during the Revolutionary War on the Continental establishment as Private & Artificer in the Regiment commanded by Col c Benjamin Hoover Commissary General of Military Stores for the term of One Year ending in March One thousand seven hundred and seventy eight agreeably to the terms of enlistment, when he was honorably discharged, as by the annexed Certificate signed Charles Lukens major of the said Regiment will fully appear.
That the precise time of enlistment he does not now recollect, nor the Company or line to which he belong'd, but presumes that as he received his discharge in the beginning of March 1778 he must have entered the service in the same month of the year preceding, and that from the circumstance of his having resided in the State of Pennsylvania when he entered the Army, he concludes, that the Regiment in which he served was of the Pennsylvania line.
The said Abel Evans further declares that he has no other vouchers or evidence to produce than the aforesaid Certificate of discharge - That he knows not whether any of his former Companions in Arms are still living - that if any of them are yet in existence -

certitude and he knew when they might be found, there would be no difficulty he is satisfied, in obtaining from that source further testimony in confirmation of the statement he now makes - He is however well known to many respectable persons in Philadelphia, in which city he has been a resident more than thirty of the last past years, and can bring forward one or more of them to testify, if necessary, that he would not make a false statement and that consequently he is the identical Abie Evan, named in the Certificate heretofore alluded to. - The said Abie Evan further declares [and he does it with considerable reluctance, having seen better days] that by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, with a constitution infirm & feeble, he is in need of assistance from his Country for support, and therefore obliged to make this statement and declaration with a view and in order to avail himself of the benefit of an Act of Congress passed the eighteenth day of March last entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War."
The said Abie Evan further and lastly declares that no pension has ever been allowed him

Given by the laws of the United States.
Affirmed to before me May 1st 1878.
Richard Peters
Not Public Phil Evans

Abel Eames. →
2421
March 1849

District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
On the fourth day of August 1820 personally appeared in the District Court of the United States for the said District (the said Court being a Court of Record, having a Clerk, a Seal and keeping a record of its proceedings) Abel Evans, aged 64 years, resident in the City of Philadelphia in the District aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare - That he served in the Revolutionary War as private and artificer One year agreeably to the term of Enlistment in the Regiment Company Pennsylvania line, as will more fully appear by his certificate of discharge forwarded with his original declaration, which bears date the first day of May 1818, to the War department at Washington, and that his pension certificate is numbered 2421.
And I the said Abel Evans do further solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof with intent so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War", passed the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and the following statement or declaration, both by me subscribed.
Affirmed to in Open Court August 4 th 1820
Abel Evans
D. Caldwell - Clk: Dist: Ct.
The said Abel Evans on the day and year aforesaid, to wit, this 4 th day of August 1820, in the District Court aforesaid, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his

Both declare as follows -
That the annexed Inventory or Schedule includes all his Estate of every description, bedding and wearing apparel excepted, - That he is by Occupation a House Carpenter - that for many years last past he has not been able to pursue his Trade or any other business, by reason of an infirm, and almost worn out Constitution - save occasionally to make a Hoop for carrying Brick or mortar, a Wood horse, and now and then to sharpen a Saw, the whole net amount of which he verily believes does not exceed Twenty Dollars pr. Annum - That his family consists of a wife, Ann Evans, aged 64 years, who has due to her from her Fathers Estate, a Sum not exceeding One hundred Dollars, which is all the Estate she has, or expects to have any claim to. Three Daughters unmarried - Sarah aged Thirty, who is and has long been in very delicate health, Ann aged Twenty Seven, and Hannah aged twenty two - that Hannah assists her mother in Domestic Affairs, and that all of them find themselves in Clothing, the first and last named by their Needle - Ann by services rendered as an Assistant in a retail Dry good Store, and who dines with her employer - That neither of them are able to pay, and consequently do not pay any thing for their Board and lodging, except Ann, who has it in her power and does occasionally present her mother with  some some article of clothing. -
Two Sons - John a Journeyman Carpenter, aged Twenty eight, who pays three Dollars pr. week for a Board & Lodging - and William aged Twenty years, who is with a Baker by whom he is furnished with Dinners, and a Sum annually, sufficient to clothe him but nothing more -
The said Abel Evans further declares that with the trifling Sum he is enabled to earn by his own feeble exertions, the three Dollars pr. week from his Son John (the continuance of which is, of course uncertain), and the pension he receives from Government - he is enabled with difficulty to provide for

himself and family, and that without his pension he sees no way of doing it in future, unless aided by charitable donation public or private. —
Affirmed to in Open Court
Abel Evans
August 4 th 1820
D. Caldwell blk: Dist: Ct. }
1820 July 25 th . Inventory taken of Abel Evans Household furniture by Michael Ash and Alexander Whitesides
   One Settee worth Dollars 1. 50   Two Dining Tables 4. 50   Two Breakfast Do. 4. —   One Stand 1. 50   One Looking Glass 2. 50   Six chairs 3. 40   One eight day clock 9. —   Two Bureaus 6. —   Three small looking glasses 3. —   One dozen old chairs 1. —   One ten plate and one small stove 7. —   Kitchen furniture 5. —   One grind stone 1. —   One old rusty six plate stove 1. 50   A few carpenters Tools 2. —   2 P o Bras and irons 3. —   One pr. Shovel & Tongs 1. —   Dollars 55. 90  
I, D. Caldwell clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania do hereby certify, that the foregoing Affirmation and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the Records of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the Opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is Fifty five Dollars and Ninety Cents.
Sw

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, on this fifth day of August A. D. 1820 and in the forty fifth year of the Independence of the said United States.
H. Caldwell - Clerk. Or. 165

In reply to your request of Aug. 23 1910 , received August 24. 1910 for a statement of the military history of Abel Evans a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. F. 41521.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Mch 1777. Mch 8 1778 Artificer Benjamin Flower Penn.           
Battles engaged in, (
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Penn.
Date of application for pension, May 1. 1818. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Philadelphia, Penn.
Age at date of application, Aged 64 years in 1820, date of birth not shown.
Remarks: In 1820 soldier referred to his wife Ann, aged 64 years, children: Sarah aged 30 years, John aged 28 years Anne aged 27 years and Hannah aged 22 years and William aged 20 years. For date of death see

These may certify that the bear-hereof John  James hath served the Term of One year, in the Royal Fusiliers Commanded by Col. Benjamin Rown Colonel  Colonel  of the  of the Fus; according to the Terms of his enlistment is hereby Honourable discharged from the service, and permitted to Pass to his own Home. Given at Carlisle this 8 th Day of March 1778. —
Thos. R. Major
To Whom it may concern

W.D.H.
8-871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by a. m. d. 26/8/10
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant Penn. line.
Soldier Abel Evans
Service Pa.
Additional Service Rev
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 191_____
No claim, combination records _____, 191_____
REMARKS:
Jnw. 7. 41, 521
no other as above

United States Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service, OFFICE OF MEDICAL OFFICER IN COMMAND.
U. S. Quarantine Perth Amboy N.J.
Aug 23. 1910
U. S. Commissioner of Pensions. Bureau of Pensions, Washington
Sir,
In the Pennsylvania Archives one Abel Evans who served in the "Pennsylvania Line" during the war of the Revolution is mentioned among those later receiving a pension from the United

States.
Will you please send me a copy of his military record, especially of place date of birth and date of death, and if possible of the other papers filed with his claim.
Respectfully Dr. Charles W. Kaulitz Jr.

DR. C. W. NAULTY, JR., 408 HIGH STREET PERTH AMBOY, N. J.
U.S. Commissioner of Pensions Pension Bureau Washington D. C.

41 521
INVALID.
Rev
No.
41 521
Abel Evans
Rev. Rev. Rev.
Act:
18 March 18 th
Box:—Vol.
8
, Page
168
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1910 Sept 1: Heel to St. G.H. Bulky Jr                      M.R.H.

A certificate of pension was issued in favor of Abel Evans on the 14. of September, 1818 and sent to David Caldwell, Esq. of Philadelphia.

Sept. 30. 1848.
I am directed by the Postmaster of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to transmit the inclosures to you. it being one of the cases returns by you for further processing .
I am, with great Confidance, yours sincerely J. Caldwell - G.W.
Earle Mr. Calhoun

To the gentle John  Quincy Mr. Calhoun - Sir at War. At Washington.

Phila. 8. Aug. 1828.
Sir,
I transmit the enclosed by direction of the Lodge of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
and am,
with great Confirmation,
Yrs ob: Servt?
D. Claudio - Bk. Dist.
Honk
W. Calhoun

I well know Major Lukins's Hand writing to the Discharge of the within Applicant & believe the latter to be in reduced circumstances; the Deponents White & de Lisle being persons of credit.
and as a matter of fact, I have been in the habit of...
I am desired to certify my knowledge of the Regiment of Artillery Artificers ; which I have already done from memory; but am now assisted by Reference to the Proceedings of the old Congress. This Regiment was on continental establishment as perfectly as any other in the Service; & the Officers & Soldiers composing it are not to be confounded in the class of "Artificers" not comprehended in the Act of the 18 th of March 1818. Thus officially concerned in drafting the plan of its establishment, which appears in the old journals of Congress of February 1778. This Regulation distinguishes this Regiment from the other Branches of the Department, although both Officers & Men were generally employed in the capacity of Artificers. Yet they were occasionally Combatants ; & I have been in the capacity of Artificers with the Corps of Artillery in the Field. They were under my particular Observation during the whole of the war, after their establishment. I should violate my own sense of Propriety & Justice, did I not declare that their services were as meritorious as those of any other Regiment in the field. In their character as Artificers, their usefulness was incalculable. In one instance, which is entitled to my grateful recollection, a detachment of this Regiment was highly assistant in enabling me, (who then had the sole charge of this business of the War & Ordnance Department,) to send into the field, preparatory to the capture of Lord Cornwallis's Army, 60 pieces of Battering Train , more than 100 pieces of field artillery, & 6000 men. When returned from Camp, (whither I went by order of Congress, to assist in arrangements for the capture of New York ,) there was nothing in preparation for the sudden & unexpected change in the whole plan of the campaign. Not a Carriage for the Battering Train, or Artillery for either Army of the field pieces dismounted, & all in want of equipments; little or no fixed Ammunition on hand, for either train. Yet in a few weeks, these trains were completed & plentifully supplied, by the exertions of those employed in the execution of this arduous Task; which could not be exceeded, even now, with a full Treasury, instead of one empty; & when there is a Profusion of every Material, in contrast with a lamentable Scarcity of every thing.
I do not wonder that no Rolls of this Regiment (which I have very often examined & seen regularly & repeatedly filed in the old War-Office) now appear in the "Pension Office." They are among the Ashes of the Papers of the old War Department. None but Soldiers enlisted for 3 Years or during the War, as was the Case with most of this Regiment, can be obtained from the States; of these, I know, to be very imperfect.
See the Resolution of Congress, March 15. 1779. — Mark the Words — "shall be governed by the Rules & Articles of War, in the same manner as other Officers in the Artillery of the United States."
On recurring to the old Journals of Congress, I perceive a Proof of Colonel Flower being considered as of that Rank in the line of the Army. An infamous attempt to charge this worthy Officer with nefarious conduct, which was made by one of his staff subordinates , Sivers; (who was delivered over to the civil Authority, tried, & punished for perjury & fraud,) was hastily listened to by Congress. They ordered the Board of War, (then consisting of Col. Pickering & myself,) to cause him, (Col. Flower,) to be imprisoned . We remonstrated against the Measure, on the ground of its impropriety; Col. F. being in his military Capacity, subject to the Rules & Articles of War; & amenable, in the first instance, to a trial by Court martial. In consequence, it will appear, that he was ordered under a military Arrest ; — & I deem it a Duty I owe to his Memory to mention, that he was honourably acquitted.
Richard Peters. August 30 th 1818.
I am persuaded that some of this Regiment have Pensions under the old laws; placed on the list by Secretaries at War well acquainted with the Circumstances of the resolution War.
R.P. As an historical fact — our want of Preparation in this quarter, shows the futility of the claim to the plan of the enterprise by a distinguished French Officer. I was present when the Abandonment of the intended attack on New York took place. It was forced on Genl Washington by the failure of the French Admiral, (De Grasse) to comply with his engagement to cooperate in the attack on New York; under the alleged apprehension that his heavy ships would be safe, in the Bay of New York, from Sea-fights.
R. Peters

I Richard Peters, Judge of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, do certify - That it appears to my satisfaction that Abel Evans, a Private, whose Deposition and Decla- ration, with the Documents accompanying the same, and herein annexed, did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in his said Declaration against the common Enemy, for the term of nine Months, upon the Continent- al Establishment. And I now transmit the Proceedings and Testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the Direction of the late Act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain Persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War."
Richard Peters Aug. 27 th 1818.

STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
Be it Known, That on the day of the date hereof, before me, JOHN GOODMAN , Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, residing in the Northern Liberties, in the County of Philadelphia, by lawful authority duly commissioned and affirmed, and by law author- ized to administer Oaths and Affirmations, Personally appeared Alexander White  sides - and Michael (flee) citizens to me well  known) both of the Northern Liberties County of  Philadelphia, who being duly affirmed according to Law declare and say, that they are  and have been well acquainted with Abel  Evans of the same place, who has lately made  application for a pension, that he is an honest  man, and in indigent circumstances, and  in need of support from his Country  and further the affiant can not  then officiates  Michael Ash
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Notarial Seal, at Philadelphia aforesaid, the 21 st day of August 1846  J Goodman

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Evans, Abiather GRADE Sergeant LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 5739 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Oct. 16, 1789
to Theodosius Fowler —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.